Journaling

We have the POWER to tread upon serpents

Posted on by MSFriend
being faithful makes us powerful
We have the power!

It’s Saturday afternoon and I’ve just woken from a nap.  My intention is to start some spring cleaning and organizing but my heart is overwhelmed.  My heart is overwhelmed with people and situations I have placed there in prayer and it’s busting at the seams. I can feel it.  This is not the same feeling I get when I harden my heart but a pressure from its softening.  The softening of compassion.   It allows me to feel the pain,  anxiety and sadness of all who’ve asked me to pray for them.  I place these people and situations in my heart so that I won’t forget them.  More importantly, I place these people and situations in my heart because my heart is big enough, strong enough and made to withstand the pressure.  My heart is where the Spirit dwells.

What am I overwhelmed with?  I’m overwhelmed with concern for the sick and suffering:  for my brother who’s in the fight of his life; the brother whose closest support is both narcissistic and selfish; for a brother in Christ whom I recently met who’s also in the fight of his life.  There are so many others.   I’m overwhelmed with emotion for those who have lost loved ones:  those whose lack of faith leaves them inconsolable and those whose faith allows them the grace to rejoice.  I am overwhelmed with concern for the mother whose child has been wrongly accused of a serious offense and the consequences that may result from that accusation.

I feel so overwhelmed with concern and sadness.  It makes me wonder how I can maintain my joy?  As I wonder, tears well up in my eyes because I feel like such a hypocrite.  I feel like a hypocrite because I often advise my friends and family to not lose hope when they’re experiencing pain and struggle.  I’m usually the one who says “trust in God”, “pray” and  “all will be well.”

Today, the pressure of the struggle, sadness and evil that surrounds us suddenly became palpable for me.   I find myself asking:  what is going on? how can I possibly keep up?  So I give up cleaning, knowing that what I NEED to do, what really MATTERS at this moment is prayer.  I grab my Bible.   An act of defiance against the tempter.   Against the one who  believes my God-given spirit can be weakened or worse, BROKEN!  Not so, not so!

Before I opened my Bible, I decide to write a bit.  I need to vent, express myself and release some pressure, so I do.  When I open my writing notebook – BAM! God, front and center, never ever ceases to amaze me.

Here’s what I read:  The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even  the demons are subject to us because of your name.”  Jesus said “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.  Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.  Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the Spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”  Luke 10:17-20

We are a powerful people!  Jesus tells us so in this Gospel story.  Shortly after acknowledging the power of the faithful, He reminds us that we should not rejoice over the “power” but over the fact that our names are written in Heaven.  We are children of God.  I am a child of God!

Today, amidst and despite the overwhelming emotion stirring within me, I rejoice over the Spirit also stirring within me.  The Spirit that’s always leading.   Leading me back to the place where God speaks. Back to that place where I hear and believe that ALL WILL BE WELL!  As I write, I switch my focus and I’m reminded of the survivors, of the faithful, of the graceful. Now the tears welling up are not only tears of joy but the tears that come when I am in God’s presence.  He is here with me, consoling me, giving me the eyes to see and the ears to hear! I can feel Him! Never underestimate the power of just being in God’s presence.  Praise God!  Thanks be to God!

Power comes with prayer.  Please pray with me and for me!  Please pray for peace in our world and in our hearts!  God bless you!

 

Compassion: realizing they still have a song in their hearts!

Posted on by MSFriend
never judge a book by it's cover
Compassion

I still have a song in my heart!  This is what my dad told me after we left his cardiologist, who had just recommended surgical implantation of a defibrillator.  Apparently my dad, who had just celebrated his 80th birthday, had a weakened heart muscle.  The doctor admitted that he didn’t recommend surgery to everyone my dad’s age.  However, having gotten to know my dad over the previous few months, his exact words were my dad still had “a lot to live and a lot to give.”  In that moment, I recognized the doctor’s compassion. How true his statement was and still is.  Thank the good Lord, dad’s surgery went well and he is doing much better than before.  The song in his heart remains.  He loves music and is singing and humming every chance he gets.  What a blessing!

My dad’s sentiment came back to mind recently while I was volunteering at an assisted living facility in my neighborhood.  I had been assigned to the “activity” room and was told I would help with transporting residents from their living quarters to the activity room.  Once there I would assist with the activities of the day.  It turns out God had a different plan and my desire to volunteer coincided with His plan.

You see, I initially signed up to volunteer because I wanted to visit with residents who were lonely.  In my mind I wanted to be a companion to those who very rarely got visitors – so when I got my assignment, I went with the flow, but it wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.  Imagine my pleasant surprise when the supervisor of the activity room didn’t have “much” for me to do but walk with the residents for exercise and chat with them as I walked.  THAT was more along the lines of what I had in mind.

My first day of volunteering was tough.  I guess they weren’t used to having their routine disrupted for a walk.  Some of them were apprehensive and quite curt with me.  Others were more than willing to oblige and get a change of scenery.  As the weeks wore on, I got to know many of them and it was encouraging to see the change in their demeanor and willingness to walk.

Here’s how it goes:  I start my day at the facility at 10am.  When I get in many of them, well over 90 years old, are sitting in a daze or asleep.   If you’re the type that judges a book by its cover, you’d probably think that, unlike my dad, they no longer have a song in their heart, that this is no quality of life for these seniors.  However, I would beg to differ.  Here’s why:  two weeks before Christmas, I walked into that place in a great mood – excited and grateful to be there to bring a smile to at least one person’s face.   After everyone had gone for a walk, just as I was about to leave, something in my soul told me to stick around,  so I did.

As one of the activity directors started playing the guitar and singing, I decided I wanted to dance.  Faces lit up, smiles cracked and I knew I had touched a nerve.   I went one step further – I asked if anyone wanted to dance.  What do you think happened?  40% of the seniors in attendance got up to dance with me.  The spirit in the room was stirring.  Even Valentine, who we all call Grandma,  got up to dance.  She just celebrated her 101st birthday.

I left the facility that day with a smile from ear to ear.  To see how these residents have progressed from not wanting to walk or be bothered, to looking forward to seeing me and being willing to DANCE!  WOW! God is sooooooo good!

If ever there was a time in my life to apply the idiom “never judge a book by its cover” THAT was the time.  We often see seniors, with limited mobility and having trouble with their memories.  We THINK that they are oblivious to what’s going on around them but they are NOT!  They want and need companionship, they want and still need love and attention.  My senior friends’ dancing proved to me that they still have a song in their heart!  Sometimes we can’t hear it but it’s there.

Are there any “books” in  your life that you’ve judged by their “cover?” Show some compassion.  Try asking them to dance.   I can guarantee you’ll see they still have a song in their heart. God bless you!